Jayapura, Jubi – Thousands of residents in Tolikara Regency, Papua Highlands, including elders, youth, and children, gathered at Karubaga Airfield on Wednesday to watch the documentary Pig Feast: Colonialism in Our Time and participate in a public discussion following the screening.
The documentary, directed by Dandhy Dwi Laksono and Cypri Dale, was screened by the Tolikara Generation Care Forum.
The film explores a range of topics, including social injustice, the dispossession of Indigenous lands, and limited access to information in Papua.
Although the documentary has often been regarded as a sensitive work, the public screening proceeded peacefully, orderly, and with strong community enthusiasm.
The event also provided a space for young Papuan intellectuals to share critical and academic perspectives on the future of their region.
Jefry Yesaya Wandik, chair of the organizing committee, said the screening was initiated as an educational opportunity for both Papuan and non-Papuan residents living in Tolikara, particularly in Karubaga.
“We want people to learn through this documentary. Pig Feast, produced by Dandhy, Cypri, and their colleagues, carries an important message about protecting the environment and paying attention to the lives of Papuan communities amid the challenges they face today,” Wandik said.
“Papua is a heritage that must be safeguarded collectively. Parents, churches, and youth organizations all have an important role in protecting the rights of Indigenous Papuans to their land and livelihoods,” he said.
Addressing spontaneous chants and emotional reactions from some audience members during the event, Wandik described them as expressions of frustration from people who feel the state has not fully fulfilled its responsibility to protect Papuans and their land.
Nevertheless, he stressed that the event was not intended to provoke the public or undermine national unity.
“On the contrary, this was a shared educational space. Many people from Java, Sulawesi, Kalimantan, and other regions joined us in watching the film. This demonstrates that the issues facing Papua are humanitarian concerns that can be understood by all Indonesians,” he said.
Wandik noted the high level of public participation in the event. Organizers estimated that more than 1,120 people attended, including community members, youth groups, elementary, junior high, and senior high school students, as well as various youth organizations. In addition to the film screening, the committee invited five speakers to help facilitate the discussion.
Meanwhile, Vigor Vigran Yikwa, chair of the Evangelical Church in Indonesia (GIDI) Youth Organization for the Toli Region, expressed gratitude for the successful event. He said the documentary had helped raise awareness about the realities currently facing Papua.
“Before watching this film, many of us viewed the situation in Papua as relatively normal. But after seeing it, we—young people, parents, and children alike—have become more aware that Papua is confronting many serious challenges,” Yikwa said.
He expressed hope that the documentary would encourage younger generations to continue protecting Papua, which he described as the “mother” of Indigenous Papuans.
“We thank Dandhy, Cypri, and everyone involved in producing this documentary. May God bless them,” he said. (*)
Jayapura, Jubi – Yanni, a member of the Executive Committee for the Acceleration of Papua’s Special Autonomy Development, has proposed that the central government distribute Special Autonomy (Otsus) funds directly to Indigenous Papuans through a cash assistance program.
The chair of the Papua Provincial Regional Leadership Council of the Gerindra Party also proposed increasing the General Allocation Fund (DAU) for the six provinces in Papua.
Yanni said she presented the proposals during a meeting with several stakeholders in Jakarta in May 2026.
According to Yanni, during a meeting with Vice President Gibran Rakabuming Raka in Manokwari, West Papua, in November 2025, the vice president stated that approximately Rp200 trillion in Special Autonomy funds had been allocated to Papua over the past 25 years.
However, Yanni argued that not all of those funds had directly benefited Indigenous Papuans.
“For example, if Special Autonomy funds are used to build roads, those roads are not used exclusively by Indigenous Papuans. We can see how many Indigenous Papuans actually own vehicles, whether cars or motorcycles. The funds are called Special Autonomy funds, but they are also used by non-Indigenous residents,” Yanni said on Thursday.
She made a similar argument regarding the allocation of 30 percent of Special Autonomy funds for education. Since schools serve both Indigenous and non-Indigenous students, she said, programs funded by Special Autonomy funds cannot be restricted solely to Indigenous Papuan children.
“It would be impossible to say that because a program is funded by Special Autonomy funds, only Indigenous Papuan students can benefit from it. The same applies to healthcare. You cannot tell a patient in a hospital that food funded through Special Autonomy funds is only for Indigenous Papuans. That is simply not possible. Although it is called Special Autonomy funding, the Rp200 trillion has not been enjoyed exclusively by Indigenous Papuans,” she said.
“If there are five Indigenous Papuans aged 17 and above in one household, they would receive Rp5 million each month. The funds could then be used directly for their needs instead of being channeled through programs whose benefits are not fully enjoyed by Indigenous Papuans,” she said.
Yanni suggested that the proposal could be considered during future revisions to the Special Autonomy Law, with details on eligibility and implementation mechanisms to be further discussed.
She also called for an increase in the General Allocation Fund, noting that the six provinces in Papua currently receive only 2.25 percent of Special Autonomy funds through the DAU mechanism.
According to her, that amount is insufficient to support accelerated development across six provinces.
“How can we talk about accelerating development when the General Allocation Fund derived from Special Autonomy funds is only 2.25 percent and must be shared among six provinces? The resources are extremely limited. That is why I proposed allocating one percent for each province in Papua,” she said.
Yanni said she had learned that Aceh Province was seeking an increase in its DAU allocation to 2.5 percent. She argued that Papua should receive similar consideration from the central government.
“If Aceh can receive 2.5 percent for a single province, then Papua, with six provinces, should receive proportionally more. Papua is far larger than Aceh. Only then can accelerated development truly be achieved,” she said.
In addition, Yanni proposed expanding the authority of the Papua People’s Assembly (MRP), particularly in verifying candidates for regional head elections.
She suggested that regional heads should originate from the customary region they seek to govern, noting that Papua is divided into seven customary territories.
According to Yanni, such a requirement would strengthen emotional ties between regional leaders and local Indigenous communities, helping ensure development policies are better aligned with local cultures, traditions, and languages.
“Without that emotional connection, it is difficult to talk about accelerating development, because each customary region in Papua has its own culture, customs, and language,” she said.
Yanni expressed hope that the proposal could be incorporated into the MRP’s authority ahead of the 2029 regional elections.
Another proposal she raised was for the central government to formally recognize Papua as the “Land of the Gospel.”
She argued that just as Aceh is often referred to as the “Veranda of Mecca” and Bali as the “Island of the Gods,” Papua should receive official recognition as the “Blessed Land of the Gospel.”
“Why can’t Papua be recognized as the Blessed Land of the Gospel? This is about receiving recognition from the state. It does not mean that other religions would not be welcome in Papua. Rather, it would acknowledge Papua’s historical identity. The Gospel represents peace and love. This was one of the aspirations I conveyed during the forum,” Yanni said. (*)
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